1.

Permutation and Combination

Fundamental counting principals
• If one thing can be done in mdifferent ways and a second thing can be done in n different ways,
then the two things in succession or simultaneously can be done in m × ndifferent ways.

Example: Suppose that a meal is to be ordered from a restaurant menu and the meal consists of one
sandwich and one dessert. If there are 5 sandwich and 3 desserts on the menu, then there are(5) (3) =
15 different meals that can be ordered from the menu.

• If one thing can be done in mdifferent ways and a second thing can be done in n different ways,
then either of the two things can be done in m + n different ways.

Example:Suppose a thief has to enter the shop and the shop has exactly 8 doors and 12 windows. The
thief may enter through a door or a window. Since the thief uses either a door or a window to enter the
shop, exactly one of the two events occur. By the sum rule, the thief has 8 + 12 = 20 choices to enter
the shop.

Factorial
• If n is a positive integer, the n factorial, denoted by n! or  n is defined to be the product
1  2  3  4  ………. × (n - 1)  n
That is n! = 1  2  3  4  ……….n
As a special case, we define 0! = 1.

Permutation
• A permutation is an arrangement of all or part of a number of things in a definite order. For example,
the permutations of the three letter a, b, c taken all at a time are abc, acb, bca, bac, cba, cab. The
permutations of the three letters a, b, c taken two at a time are ab, ac, ba, bc, ca, cb
• Number of permutations of n different things taken r at a time is denoted by the symbol P(n, r) or
nPr or nPr

nPr =
n!
(n - r)!
In the above relation n and r are positive integers and 1  r  n .
• The total number of permutations of n different things taken all at a time is nPn = n!
• The number of permutations of n things taken all at a time when p of them are alike and of one
n!
kind, q of them are alike and of second kind, all other being different is
p! q!

Combination
• A combination is a selection of all or part from a number of things without their arrangement. Thus,
the combinations of the three letters a, b, c taken two at a time are ab, bc, ca
Note that here ab and baare considered same.
• The symbol nCr ornCr or C(n, r) represents the number of combinations (selections) of n different
things taken r at a time.

Thus8C2 denotes the number of combinations of 8 different things taken 2 at a time.

nC =
n!
r
(n - r)! r!
Note: nCr= nCn-r
nC1 = n

nC = 1
n
nC = 1
0
nP =nC  r!
r r

EXERCISE

1. In a cinema hall, there are three entrance doors and two exit doors. In how many ways can a person
enter the hall and come out?
(A) 6 (B) 5 (C) 4 (D) 3 (E) 2

2. There are four routes between city A and City B. In how many different ways can a man go from city
A to B and return if for returning i) any of the route is taken ii) the same route is taken iii) the same
route is not taken.
i) (A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 12 (E) 16
ii) (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
iii)(A) 12 (B) 10 (C) 7 (D) 5 (E) 3

3. In a test, a student has to answer either of two questions. One of which has two possible answers true
or false and the other question is of multiple-choice question type, with four possible answers. In
how many ways the student can answer on the test?
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 8 (E) 16

4. In how many ways can the letters in the word ‘STUDY’ be ordered?
(A) 1 (B) 5 (C) 120 (D) 256 (E) 625

5. If any ATM code consists of digit 3, 5, 7, 9. How many different ATM code of distinct four digits
are possible?
(A) 4 (B) 24 (C) 30 (D) 48 (E) 64

6. How many different five digit numbers can be formed using 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 if none of the digits
can occur more than once in the integer?
(A) 5040 (B) 2520 (C) 35 (D) 7 (E) 5

7. Martha invited 4 friends to go with her to the movie. In how many ways they can occupy 5 seats so
that Martha is sitting in the middle seat?
(A) 20 (B) 24 (C) 60 (D) 120 (E) 125

8. In how many ways can 4 boys and 3 girls sit in a row such that no 2 girls are together?
(A) 4800 (B) 2400 (C) 1440 (D) 240 (E) 120
9. A talent contest has 8 contestants. Judges must award prizes for first, second, and third places, with
no ties.
i) In how many different ways can the judges award the 3 prizes?
ii) How many different groups of 3 people can get prizes?
i) (A) 3 (B) 8 (C) 24 (D) 56 (E) 336
ii) (A) 3 (B) 8 (C) 24 (D) 56 (E) 336
10. The buyers of a certain mechanical toy must choose 2 of 4 optional motions and 4 of 5 optional
accessories. How many different combinations of motions and accessories are available to the
buyer?
(A) 8 (B) 11 (C) 15 (D) 20 (E) 30

11. From a box of 10 light bulbs, you are to remove 4. How many different sets of 4 light bulbs could
you remove?
(A) 40 (B) 105 (C) 210 (D) 1000 (E) 5040
12. In how many ways can a cricket team of eleven member be chosen out of a pool of 15 players if (i)
there is no restriction on selection (ii) a particular player is always chosen? (iii) a particular player
is never chosen?
i) (A) 1655 (B) 1600 (C) 1450 (D) 1365 (E) 1200
ii) (A) 909 (B) 991 (C) 1001 (D) 1101 (E) 1200
iii)(A) 340 (B) 440 (C) 364 (D) 350 (E) 300

13. In how many ways a committee of 5 members can be formed from 6 men and 5 women consisting
of 3 men and 2 women?
(A) 200 (B) 190 (C) 176 (D) 163 (E) 150
14. Out of 5 men and 2 women, a committee of 3 is to be formed. In how many ways can it be formed
if at least one woman is to be included?
(A) 50 (B) 25 (C) 20 (D) 15 (E) 10